The shape o Chile is a distinctive ribbon o land 4,300 kilometres (2,700 mi) lang an on average 175 kilometres (109 mi) wide. Its climate varies, rangin frae the warld's driest desert – the Atacama – in the north, throu a Mediterranean climate in the centre, tae a rainy temperate climate in the sooth. The northren desert contains great mineral walth, principally copper. The relatively sma central aurie dominates in terms o population an agricultural resoorces, an is the cultural an poleetical centre frae which Chile expandit in the late 19t century, when it incorporatit its northren an soothren regions. Soothren Chile is rich in forests an grazin lands an features a string o volcanoes an lakes. The soothren coast is a labyrinth o fjords, inlets, canals, twistin peninsulas, an islands.

The day, Chile is ane o Sooth Americae's maist stable an prosperous naitions an a recognised middle pouer. It leads Laitin American naitions in human development, competitiveness, income per caipita, globalization, economic freedom, an law perception o corruption. It an aa ranks heich regionally in freedom o the press an democratic development. Housomeivver, it haes a heich economic inequality, as measured bi the Gini index. In Mey 2010 Chile became the first Sooth American kintra tae join the OECD. Chile is a foondin member o baith the Unitit Naitions an the Union o Sooth American Naitions.